Asher-smith beats Richardson in 100m

GATESHEAD: Britain’s Dina Asher-smith overcame appalling home conditions to destroy a strong field, notably new American golden girl Sha’carri Richardson, to win the 100 metres in the opening Diamond League meeting of the season. The 200m world champion got a fabulous start and held her form into a fierce headwind of 3.1 metres to win in 11.35 seconds. Richardson, who ran a startling 10.72 last month, clocked 11.44 for second, with Marie-josee Ta Lou (11.48) just pipping Shelly-ann Fraserpryce for third.

The meeting took place in cold, wet and windy weather in north-eastern England, although the few thousand fans allowed to attend stayed in their places until the end and were rewarded by Asher-smith’s morale-boosting run. “I feel really good,” she said. “Conditions were far from ideal for sprinting but the most important thing is to come away with a good result and a win and I was very happy to do that.”

Richardson, 21, in her first Diamond League outing, said: “I’m definitely proud that I was able to execute and now I know what I need to go back and work on and what I need to get better at. “This won’t be the last time that I’m going to line up against these ladies and I want to let the world know and let the ladies know that I’m here to compete just as well as they’ve done for many years.”

American sprint dominance was re-established in the men’s 200m as Kenny Bednarek was an impressive winner, opening a big lead off the bend and increasing it as he powered home well clear. He clocked 20.33, with Canadian duo Arron Brown (20.79) and Andre de Grasse (20.85) splashing home in his wake. Jakob Ingebrigtsen delivered another middle distance master class to win the 1,500m in an impressive 3:36.27. The Norwegian hit the front for the last lap and eased clear, almost imperceptibly, to draw the speed out of Australian duo Oliver Hoare and Stewart Mcsweyn who finished second and third.